64 



LOBSTERS. 



Close time. 



Ponds. 



Spawning. 



Supply of. 

 CRABS. 



Close time. 

 Gauge. 



example, to allow the Cornish lobster fishermen to fish during the month of 

 July on the great lobster ground off the Land's End, which is so exposed that 

 summer is the only fishing season, would then have the close time he has 

 suggested made applicable to the whole of Scotland, leaving England to be 

 separately dealt with. Regards a close time as absolutely essential. Would 

 prefer, if practicable, to have it applicable to the whole kingdom ; but would 

 rather have a local close time than none at all. Entirely disapproves of arti- 

 ficial ponds for keeping lobsters in for a length of time, until they are wanted 

 for the market. In such ponds the lobsters are starved, and get watery and 

 out of condition. The sending of such lobsters to the English market gives a 

 bad character to the Scotch lobsters. All the lobster salesmen in England that 

 have received such lobsters entirely disapprove of them Once lost about 5001. 

 in one season owing to some of his men having contracted for the lobsters 

 from three of these ponds. 



Has no doubt whatever that a lobster ground of limited extent may be so 

 cleared out by over-fishing as to be exhausted for all practical purposes. Thinks 

 that lobsters spawn chiefly in the months of March and April, though berried 

 hens are got all the year round. In March and April there are from 40 to 45 

 per cent, of berried hens. Thinks that a rough estimate put before him, 

 calculating the whole yield of the Scotch lobster fisheries at 300,000 annually, 

 is not far from the truth. Does not think it an over-estimate. Would have a 

 close time for crabs, the same as that for lobsters, and also a gauge of 4f inches ; 

 but does not speak with the same confidence regarding crabs, not having had 

 the same experience of them as of lobsters. 



